Knife hinge latch

ABSTRACT

A KNIFE HINGE LATCH FOR ATTACHMENT OF A DOOR TO A CABINET INCLUDING A PAIR OF HINGE PARTS MOUNTED ONE ON EACH OF THE DOOR AND CABINET AND JOINED BY A HINGE PIN, A KEEPER CARRIED ON ONE OF THE HINGE PARTS, AND A STRIKEBEARING MEMBER CARRIED ON THE OTHER OF THE HINGE PARTS THE STRIKE-BEARING MEMBER COOPERATES WITH THE KEEPER   TO MAINTAIN THE DOOR IN CLOSED POSITION, AND SERVES AS A BEARING TO FACILITATE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE HINGE PARTS.

Dec. 7, 1971 y H, |TT| E 3,624,862

KNIFE HINGE LATCH Filed April 23. 1969 #Irs fige... l wx INVENTOR. CARL H. L/ TTL l ATTORNEYS By @uw www 'United States Patent O 3,624,862 KNIFE HINGE LATCH Carl H. Little, Jamestown, N.Y., assignor to Weber-Knapp Company, Jamestown, N.Y. Filed Apr. 23, 1969, Ser. No. 818,490

Int. CLEd11/10 U.S. Cl. 16-145 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hinge latch adapted to perform the dual functions of hingedly supporting a door on a cabinet or the like and latching same in closed position.

The present knife hinge latch includes a pair of hinge parts, which are adapted to be mounted one on each of the door and cabinet; a strike-bearing member mounted on one of the hinge parts; and a keeper mounted on the other hinge part. The hinge parts, which are of a generally L-shaped configuration, include mounting flanges and cooperating bearing flanges apertured to receive a common hinge pin. The strike-bearing member defines a bearing portion adapted to maintain the hinge bearing flanges in spaced relationship for relative pivotal moveinent within substantially parallel planes, and a strike portion, which is resiliently biased in a direction transversely away from the hinge pin for cooperation with the keeper when the door is pivoted towards its closed position. This arrangement tends to prevent slamming of the door, while permitting the door when swung to a desired point to be self closing without bounceback or accidental opening. Also, it is a feature of this invention that the latch is operable through only a small degree of door swing, thus, permitting the door to stand substantially in any desired open position.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary View of a cabinet and door embodying a knife hinge constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. Z is an exploded perspective view of the hinge formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the door in open position with portions thereof broken away to reveal the hinge;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but having portions of the door hinge part removed to show the relationship of the hinge parts when the door is in a partially closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the relationship of hinge parts as the door is moved toward a fully closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the strike-bearing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. l, the hinge according to the present invention is generally designated as 1 and shown as mounting a door 2 on a cabinet 3. Cabinet 3 is shown for purposes of reference as including side walls 5, a hinge frame member or stile 6 and a door stop frame member or stile 7. Door 2 may be provided with a suitable pull 8- to facilitate opening of the door, and, if desired, one or the other of frame member 7 and door 2 may be provided with a suitable door stop bumper 9, as is well known.

Hinge 1 is shown particularly in FIG. 2 as including a pair of hinge parts 10 and 11, which are of generally L- shaped configuration, and include mounting flange portions 12 and 13 and bearing flange portions 14 and 15, respectively; a strike-bearing member 16 and a hinge pin 17. Hinge pin 17 is receivable within through apertures 20a-20c provided in bearing 4flange portion 14, member 16 and bearing flange portion 15, respectively, and serves when its ends are peened to retain the hinge parts and strike-bearing member in a stacked relationship, while permitting relative pivotal movement between the bearing flange portions within substantially parallel planes.

While hinge portions 10 and 11 may with slight design changes be alternatively mounted on the door and frame, they are shown in the drawing for purposes of reference as being mounted on door 2 and hinge frame member 6, respectively, by screws 22, 23, which are receivable within apertures 24 and 25 provided in mounting flange portions 12 and 13.

Mounting of hinge 11 on frame member 6 is facilitated by the provision of a guide -flange 2.7 formed integrally with frame hinge part mounting flange 13. Mounting of hinge i1 on door 2 is facilitated by forming the door with a rear surface-side end surface opening slot 30, which is of sufficient thickness and depth to permit free relative pivotal movement between the hinge parts when assembled by hinge pin 17.

Again referring particularly to FIG. 2, it will be seen that door hinge part bearing flange 14 is provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of integrally formed orienting tabs 32 and 34, which are bent downwardly at right angles thereto. Also, it Will be seen that frame hinge bearing flange 15 is formed with an upstanding keeper portion 35 and an end opening slot recess 37, which is disposed intermediate keeper portion 35 and hinge pin receiving aperture 20c. Slot recess 37 is adapted to receive tab 34 when door 2 is pivoted into a full open position, which is beyond that illustrated in FIG. 3, and cooperates therewith to define the maximum or f-ull open position of the door. This arrangement prevents the door from contacting and marking the cabinet.

Keeper portion 35 defines a generally V-shaped cam surface having first and second cam portions 39a, 39h joined by an intermediate rounded apex cam portion 39e, which is disposed in a spaced, facing relationship to hinge pin 17. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, both of cam portions 39a, 39b are inclined with respect to the surface of mounting flange 13 and thus with respect to the front surface of cabinet 3 when hinge part 11 is mounted thereon, as best shown in FIGS. 3-5. Also, for the reasons to be hereinafter discussed, it is preferred that the thus described angle of inclination of cam portion 39h is greater than that of cam portion 39a.

Strike-bearing member 16 is best shonm in FIGS. 2 and 4-6 as including a generally U-shaped plate portion 40, which is formed of a suitable self lubricating, resilient plastic material, such as Delrin; and a generally U-shaped metal wire spring element 41.-Plate portion 40 includes a first leg portion 42, which is provided with a downwardly projecting cylindrically bearing boss or projection 43 disposed concentrically of hinge pin receiving aperture 20b; a tapered second leg portion 44, Which is provided adjacent its free or reduced thickness end .with a rounded, generally V-shaped strike portion 45; and a connecting base portion 46, which is provided with a slot recess 47 adapted to receive door bearing plate tab 32. Thus, it will be apparent that when hinge 1 is assembled, hinge pin 17 cooperates with orienting tab 32 to constrain plate leg portion 42 from -movement with respect to hinge part 10, while permitting movement of plate leg portion 44 and thus strike portion 45 relative thereto in a plane substantially parallel to bearing flange 14. Also, it will be apparent that bearing boss 43 is disposed in bearing engagement with the upwardly facing surface of frame bearing fiange and serves to space the latter from adjacent surface portions of plate portion 40, so as to minimize frictional contact between the hinge parts.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 6, it will be understood that spring element 41 includes a first leg portion 49, which is received within an upwardly opening recess 50 provided in plate leg portion 42; and a second leg portion 51, which is positionally supported intermediate spaced upper and lower stops or retainers 52, l53 projecting from second leg portion 44. Preferably, the free end 54 of spring leg portion 49 extends beyond plate leg portion 42 so as to lie in abutting engagement with orienting tab 34 when hinge 1 is assembled, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3-5. With this arrangement, spring element 41 supplements the natural resiliency of plate portion 40 such as to normally bias strike portion 45 away from hinge pin 17 into its normal position indicated in FIG. 3, whereas orienting tab 34 serves as a stop for spring element 41 so as to prevent undue stressing of plate leg portion 42 when the spring and plate leg portion 44 are deformed upon engagement of strike portion 45 with keeper portion 35 during closing and opening of door 2.

It will be understood that when door 2 is in an open position at or beyond that illustrated in FIG. 3', so as to afford access to the interior of cabinet 3, strike-bearing member 16 is in its normal or non-deformed condition and hinge parts 10, 11 permitted to move freely with respect to each other. 'When door 2 is swung towards its closed position, illustrated in FIG. 1, strike 45 is initially brought into sliding surface contact with cam portion 39a with the result that strike portion 45 is forced to move towards pivot pin 17, thereby serving to progressively deform leg portion 44 and spring element 41 in the manner indicated in FIG. 4. The energy absorbed by strike-bearing member 16 upon deformation thereof increases the force necessary to effect closing of the door, and thus tends to reduce the likelihood of the door being slammed should too much closing force be exerted by a user. When strike 45 is moved past cam portion 39a, due to continued closing movement of door 2, the energy previously absorbed by member 16 forces strike portion 45 successi-vely against apex portion 39C and cam portion 39b so as to cam door 2 into its fully closed position. It will be understood that when door 2 is in its fully closed position as determined by door stop bumper 9, member 16 remains in a partially deformed state, whereby it tends to cam the door beyond its fully closed position so as to prevent rattling thereof.

The effort required for opening and closing door 2 may be readily regulated by simply varying the inclination or slope of cam surfaces 39a and 39b with respect to frame mounting plate 13. As indicated above, however, it .is preferable to incline cam portion 39b to a greater extent than cam portion 39a so that the door is easier to close than to open, thus preventing accidental openings or bounceback of the door from its closed position.

The strike-bearing member construction of the present invention permits the utilization of a plastic material in order to provide a substantially frictionless strike and 4 spacer bearing between the hinge parts and of a metal spring element to insure that the member retains substantially constant spring characteristics after repeated use. Furthermore, by constructing the plastic and metallic elements of the strike-bearing member in the manner described, there is provided a self contained unit, which may be easily assembled with the door and frame hinge parts to provide a simple, low cost hinge construction.

I claim:

1. In a hinge latch to pivotally connect a door to a frame in a manner such that said door will close tightly against said frame, the combination comprising:

first and second hinge parts attachable one to each of said door and frame;

a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said hinge parts;

a strike-bearing member carried by said first hinge part;

and

a keeper carried by said second hinge part, said member forming a bearing surface for said second hinge part to facilitate relative pivotal movement between said hinge parts and forming a strike engageable with said keeper in such a manner that said door will close tightly against said frame, said member including a generally U-shaped self-lubricating plastic portion and a generally U-shaped metallic spring element, said plastic portion including a first leg portion nonmovably mounted on said first hinge part and a second leg portion -supported by said first leg portion for movement relative to said first hinge part, said lfirst leg portion defining said bearing surface, said second leg portion definingsaid strike, said spring element having leg portions carried one on each of said first `and second leg portions, and said spring element being resiliently deformable upon relative movement of said second leg portion towards said first leg portion.

2. The combination in hinge latch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first leg portion is provided with an aperture to receive said hinge pin and said apparatus passes through said bearing surface.

3. In a hinge latch to pivotally connect a door to a frame in a manner such that said door will close tightly against said frame, the combination comprising:

first and second hinge parts connectible one to each of said door and frame, said hinge parts each including hinge part mounting flanges and bearing flanges;

a hinge pin for pivotally interconnecting said hinge parts, said bearing flanges being apertured to receive said hinge pin;

a strike-bearing member carried by first hinge part;

and

a keeper carried by said second hinge part, said member being disposed intermediate said bearing flanges and including a first portion non-movably carried on said first hinge part bearing ange for forming a bearing surface to faclitate relative pivotal movement between said hinge parts and a second portion supported on said first portion for movement relative to said first hinge part bearing flange in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said second portion forming a strike movable as aforesaid upon engagement thereof with said keeper to cause said door to close tightly against said frame, said keeper is of generally V-shaped configuration having first and second cam portions joined by an apex portion disposed in spaced facing relationship to said hinge pin, and said strike being engageable successively with said first and second cam portions when said door is moved to closed position.

4. The combination in a hinge latch as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second cam portions are inclined with respect to the front surface of said frame against which said door closes, the angle of inclination of said second cam portion being greater than that of said first cam portion.

5. In a hinge latch to pivotally connect a door to a frame in a manner such that said door will close tightly against said frame, the combination comprising:

first and second hinge parts attachable one to each of said door and frame, said hinge parts each including hinge part mounting flanges and bearing anges;

ra hinge pin for pivotally interconnecting said hinge parts, said bearing fianges being apertured to receive said hinge pin;

a strike-bearing member carried by said first hinge part and including a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate portion joining said first and second portion; and keeper carried by said second hinge part, said first portion being non-movably carried on said first hinge part bearing fiange and forming a bearing surface for said second hinge part bearing iiange, said second portion forming a strike engageable with said keeper to tightly close said door against said frame, said second portion being supported on said first portion by said intermediate portion for movement relative to said first hinge part bearing flange in a plane substantially parallel thereto, said second portion being movable as aforesaid upon engagement thereof with said keeper, said first portion is apertured adjacent one end thereof to receive said hinge pin, said intermediate portion is provided with a recess opening, said first hinge part bearing flange is provided with an orientating tab receivable within said recess opening, said tab cooperating with said hinge pin to non-movably carry said first portion.

6. In a hinge latch to pivotally connect a door to a frame in a manner such that said door will close tightly against said frame, the combination comprising:

first and second hinge parts attachable one to each of said door and frame, said hinge parts including hinge part mounting anges and bearing fianges;

a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said hinge parts, said bearing fianges being apertured to receive said hinge pin;

a strikeebearing member carried by said first hinge part;

and

a keeper carried by said second hinge part, said member forming a bearing surface for said second hinge part to facilitate relative pivotal movement between said hinge parts and forming a strike engageable with said keeper in such a manner that said door will close tightly against said frame, said member being disposed intermediate said bearing flanges and including a generally U-shaped self-lubricating plastic portion and a generally U-shaped metallic spring element, said plastic portion including a first leg portion, a second leg portion and an intermediate portion, said first leg portion defining said bearing surface and being provided adjacent a free end thereof with a hinge pin receiving aperture passing through said bearing surface, said intermediate portion having a reces-s opening, said second leg portion defining said strike, said first hinge part bearing flange being provided with an orientating tab receivable within said recess opening, said tab cooperating with said hinge pin to non-movably carry said first leg portion on said first hinge part bearing fiange while permitting relative movement of said second leg portion within a plane substantially parallel to said first hinge part bearing fiange, said spring element having legs carried one on each of said leg portions, said spring element being resiliently deformable upon relative movement of said second leg portion towards said first leg portion due to engagement of said `strike with said keeper.

7. The combination in a hinge latch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first hinge part bearing fiange is provided with a second orientating tab disposed adjacent said free end of said first leg portion, and the spring leg carried on said first leg portion includes a free end portion projecting therebeyond into engagement with said second tab.

8. The combination in a hinge latch a-s set forth in claim 7, wherein said second hinge part bearing fiange is provided with a recess opening adapted to receive said second tab and cooperate therewith to define the limit of opening movement of said door.

9. The combination in a hinge latch as set forth in claim 6, wherein said keeper is of a generally V-shaped configuration having first and second cam portions joined by an apex portion disposed in a spaced facing relationship to said hinge pin, and said strike being engageable successively with said first and second cam portions when said door is moved to closed position to effect said relative movement of said second leg portion.

10. The combination in a hinge latch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first an dsecond cam portions are inclined with respect to the front surface of said frame against which said door closes, the angle of inclination of said second cam portion being greater than that of said first cam portion.

11. The combination in a hinge latch as -set forth in claim 6, wherein said plastic portion has first and second surfaces disposed in facing relation to said first and second hinge part bearing anges, said bearing surface being arranged on said second surface; and said spring element is disposed intermediate said first and second surfaces.

12. The combination in a hinge latch as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first surface of said first leg portion is provided with a slot recess adapted to receive a first of said spring element legs, and said second leg portion is provided with a pair of stops projecting in the direction of said first leg portion and adapted to receive therebetween the other of said spring element legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/ 1968 Anderson 16-180 3/1969 Gorton et al 16-145 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent No. 3,624,352 Dated December 7, 1971 Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column il, line 39, "apparatus" should read aperture Column 6, line 33, "an descend" should be and second Signed and sealed this 211th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents M F30-1050 (I0-59l uscoMM-Dc soave-ps9 V U 5 GOVIRHHENT PRINTING OFFICE I DI (J-JEG-Sll` 

